*** Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository

[duncan_idaho]

The reign is over. Time to begin the quest for the next one.

Interesting offseason opens for the Royals. Will they go all in for one last shot with this crew? Will they re-tool for 2018 and beyond? Will Dayton Moore actually decrease payroll this time?

Trades, free agent signings, rumors, plans, proposals... dump 'em all here, for this is... the offseason repository!

Royals Top Prospects, 2017

This is a list that’s going to seem a little bleak initially, as Raul Mondesi got enough ABs to age out of the prospect rankings (just barely – at 135 ABs, he is not rookie eligible). But that said, I like the talent and feel like this is a system that will actually be underrated by the prospect services.

Spoiler!

Format: POS/Name/2017 Projected Final Level

1) 3B/OF Hunter Dozier, MLB. Dozier bounced back from a disastrous 2015 campaign that had many wondering, myself included, if he was wrecked. His strong offensive performance in 2016 saw Dozier recapture the mature approach that many liked coming up, while also starting to tap into his above-average raw power for the first time.

In addition to his success at the plate, Dozier also proved he could at least HANDLE an OF spot, which could put him in the conversation for 2017 playing time at the major leagues. If the Royals DO end up trading Cheslor Cuthbert, Dozier could find a decent amount of MLB playing time sliding between RF and 3B. With Moustakas recovering from knee surgery, he likely will need more regular breaks from the field. And the streaky Paulo Orlando is just not an intriguing short-side platoon partner for Jarrod Dyson.

2) LHP Matt Strahm, MLB. Strahm just barely skates under the rookie eligibility rules for a pitcher, so he can be included here. Royals fans already got a taste of the lefty’s abilities, as he used his above-average fastball and slurve to dominate out of the pen in 2016. For him to translate that dominance to the rotation, Strahm will need to maintain his velocity (92-94) and continue to improve a changeup that flashed average at times.

If the changeup becomes a weapon he can lean on against righties, Strahm could be a very solid mid-rotation starter and fringe ToR/No. 2 type (think Danny Duffy-lite).

3) RHP Josh Staumont, AAA. This one could blow up on me and look really silly by this time next year, but I’m encouraged by what we saw from Staumont late last year. He showed significantly improved control down the stretch for Northwest Arkansas, including some impressive playoff starts, while maintaining the big-time K ability. That trend continued in the Arizona Fall League.

If Staumont’s control holds, the Royals have a guy with a plus fastball, plus-plus curve, and average change (with a slider that could develop into a real weapon as he matures). He’ll start next season at AAA and could be an addition to the MLB bullpen or even the rotation before the season ends.

4) RF Jorge Bonifacio, AAA. Boni, like Dozier, had a bounceback season in 2016 with the bat, and also played 15-20 pounds lighter than the year before, which added some nice defensive utility according to reports I’ve gotten. He now looks like a guy could provide solid/average RF production in the major leagues… Average defense paired with potential to put up a .275/.335/.450 line. While that’s not all-star level, it IS playable. Especially at pre-arbitration dollars. He’ll get another year in Omaha to refine his approach, and likely be in the mix of a 2018 mini-youth movement… unless moved for MLB reinforcements.

5) C Meibrys Viloria, Low-A (Lexington). I haven’t seen him in person, but I like the pedigree. You’ve got a lefthanded hitting catcher with the defensive ability to stick behind the plate. He was a big-bonus guy out of Colombia (nearly $500k). And his offensive performance has been highly impressive early, with a good combination of power, plate discipline, and contact skills.

He’s forever away from the majors, just now clearing rookie ball, but Viloria is the most exciting prospect KC has had at Idaho Falls since someone on this board was gushing about a 16-year-old SS tearing it up.

6) 1B Ryan O’Hearn, AAA. O’Hearn is a guy who has never gotten a lot of hype from scouts, but he continues to be a strong producer. He’s someone who likely will strikeout about 25 percent of the time at the big-league level, but has the ability to be a .500+ SLG guy. That plays. He also has shown good patience at the plate, posting above-average OBPs at every level.

Bold prediction: I won’t be shocked if O’Hearn takes over at 1B for KC in 2018/2019 and provides similar offensive production to Hosmer out of the gate. He’s probably never going to be a consistent plus average (.290+) hitter, but .270 with 25 HR is something within reach for him. He’ll get his first shot at AAA in 2017.

7) RHP AJ Puckett, A+. Puckett is a high floor, low-ceiling guy who performed about as you’d expect in 2016 after being the Royals’ first pick in the 2016 Rule IV Draft. He’s not flashy, but Puckett does profile as a solid potential back-end starter. Good fastball command and an above-average changeup are his calling cards. If Puckett finds a reliable breaking ball to put batters away, this could tick up. Great athlete, very similar to Jake Odorizzi in that regard.

8) RF Khalil Lee, Low-A (Lexington). Lee was a two-way player in HS and many viewed him as a pitcher first as a pro, but the Royals drafted him as an OF and were reward with a strong debut campaign. Lee is not a big guy, but he produced solid power numbers despite that. He’s a dynamic athlete who could contribute with power and speed.

9) C Chase Vallot, High-A (Wilmington). Vallot has an intriguing bat, with plus raw power. Got off to a great start in 16 before being sidelined and then sidetracked by injury. RH bat may be good enough to push him out from behind the plate, where he has good tools but a long way to go.

10) RHP Jake Junis and RHP Alec Mills (AAA). I'm copping out here and including both at No. 10 because they're so similar. Like Puckett, they each project as a serviceable back of rotation starter. Similar stuff and profiles, though Junis has shown a little better strikeout ability and may have a smidge more upside as a result.

Others of note:

SS/CF Marten Gasparini. Production has been bad for this toolsy player, but Gasparini has speed and pop that jump out at you. At only 19, need to be patient with him... this European signee was even less polished when signing at 16 than the typical Latin America prospect.

OF Seuly Matias. Loud, loud tools. Matias profiles as a classic RF... big-time power potential. He's a long ways from the majors but is one of the Royals' biggest bonus babies from LA.

RHP Ashe Russell. 2014 1st rounder saw his velocity disappear last year and was quickly shut down. He's intriguing one way or the other, even if he ends up as another notch in the belt of the TINSTAAPP saying.

2B Corey Toups. O'Hearn's HS teammate has been an above-average producer for an up-the-middle player. His small stature hides a surprising amount of pop. Could turn into a Mark Grudzielanek type of offensive second baseman at his peak - solid average, lots of 2Bs.

RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Foster Griffin, RHP Nolan Watson - all three have underwhelmed as pros but were drafted in the supplemental round. Stuff and projectability for each is a positive. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of them take a Cody Reed-like step forward this season and crack the 50-75 range on prospect lists. They all have the natural ability.

SS/2B Ricky Aracena - Jose Altuve-sized Aracena is a switch hitting middle infielder who can flat out run. Switch hitter with a good approach.

RHP Pedro Fernandez - I'm still a believer in his stuff, even if he is destined for the pen. Was having a nice 2016 start until injuries derailed him right after his promotion to AA.

Sirs not Appearing in this Prospect List:

RHP Kyle Zimmer. Same story, different year. The Royals are hopeful they FINALLY found the cause of Zimmer's achy shoulder. If they really did, and he can stay healthy, the talent/potential is exciting.

OF Bubba Starling. Never trust a guy named Derek.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by doomy3

Not Royals related anymore, but damn.

Per Rotoworld:

The younger brother of Edinson Volquez has been stabbed to death in the Dominican Republic.

Brandy Volquez, 25, was reportedly involved in an early-morning fight Monday with two men at a barbershop in Santo Domingo. There is one person in police custody. It's yet another unspeakable family tragedy for Edinson, who lost his father hours before starting Game 1 of the 2015 World Series. "I will always remember you my brother. May God have you in his kingdom," the newly-signed Marlins right-hander wrote on his Instagram account Tuesday. "RIP one love."

Damn. Lost his father in 14, now his brother. ****.

[Coach]

http://www.royalsreview.com/2017/1/1...st-in-baseball

The Royals once had a farm system the envy of baseball, and while not all of those prospects panned out, many became the nucleus of a club that would win two pennants and a championship, validating the hard work of the scouting department. However the Royals have failed to re-stock that farm system effectively, at least, according to experts like ESPN’s Keith Law. Law began his rankings of organizational talent this week and ranked the Royals 26th in baseball, ahead of only the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Mariners, and Angels.

Not good.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Damn. Lost his father in 14, now his brother. ****.

Actually, it was during the 2015 World Series.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Coach

http://www.royalsreview.com/2017/1/1...st-in-baseball



Not good.

Some regression was inevitable due to our higher draft positions, the lack of competitive balance picks, and our trades to win it all in 15'.

Still, we shouldn't have fallen off a cliff like that. Moore's string of bad misses since 2009 has to be a major concern.

Heck, as of now Allard Baird selected more high impact guys (Greinke, Gordo, Butler, and Hoch, supposedly) than Moore has in the first round. Thankfully Moore has proven to be an incredible scout of international talent and has used that network effectively.. but the gap is closing.

[Great Expectations]

We really needed to hit on one of those pitchers. It's crazy how fast those Indiana high schoolers flopped.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Coach

http://www.royalsreview.com/2017/1/1...st-in-baseball



Not good.

Didn't someone recently post something regarding correlation between "having the best farm system" and success on the field? If I recall correctly, teams with the 'best' systems were among both the best teams and among the worst teams.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by tk13

Meanwhile, in HOF balloting.

Ballot #215 is from Rob Gillies. His ballot was not made public last year.

In the Tracker: https://t.co/H609i4mQap pic.twitter.com/LMwaPEk2SP

— Ryan Thibodaux (@NotMrTibbs) January 16, 2017

Best part of that is them ripping Pedro Gomez in the comments and him trying to defend himself then giving up.

Dude does suck and wouldn't exist without Bonds like they said.

[tomahawk kid]

So - with the Duffy deal, Dayton has shaved like $11M off of the payroll.

Is that correct?

At this point, I'd assume the Glass Family will pocket that money - since payroll was at an "all time high" last season and we didn't make the playoffs.

[Sure-Oz]

Royals couldn't do this?
@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: Three-year deal between #Orioles, Trumbo expected to be under $40M. Two sides close to agreement.

[Sure-Oz]

@royalsreview: Market for DH could pick up. Carter, Alvarez, Moss, Morrison still out there. https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/822222279081938945

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@royalsreview: Market for DH could pick up. Carter, Alvarez, Moss, Morrison still out there. https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/822222279081938945

No to Carter. Rest wouldn't be bad.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Royals couldn't do this?
@Ken_Rosenthal: Sources: Three-year deal between #Orioles, Trumbo expected to be under $40M. Two sides close to agreement.

I wouldn't want them to do that deal. Trumbo is a streaky, one-dimensional player whose one dimension would be damnpened playing at the K. You can get Chris Carter, who's 80-90 percent of the player, for 50 percent of the annual salary, for one year.

Much less risk.

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

@royalsreview: Market for DH could pick up. Carter, Alvarez, Moss, Morrison still out there. https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/822222279081938945

And my favorite name in that group - Luis Valbuena - isn't even in that list.

Valbuena/Alvarez
Napoli
Morrison
Moss
Carter

Probably in about that order. Would imagine that market will start to move now that Trumbo is off the board. Likely means Alvarez is off the board for the O's (which is good for KC - that's a tough situation to compete with).

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I wouldn't want them to do that deal. Trumbo is a streaky, one-dimensional player whose one dimension would be damnpened playing at the K. You can get Chris Carter, who's 80-90 percent of the player, for 50 percent of the annual salary, for one year.

Much less risk.



And my favorite name in that group - Luis Valbuena - isn't even in that list.

Valbuena/Alvarez
Napoli
Morrison
Moss
Carter

Probably in about that order. Would imagine that market will start to move now that Trumbo is off the board. Likely means Alvarez is off the board for the O's (which is good for KC - that's a tough situation to compete with).

Trust your judgement just seemed cheap for trumbo
... Hopefully we get one of those too options

[Sure-Oz]

1 option gone
@Ken_Rosenthal: Source: #Angels in agreement with Valbuena, pending physical. Likely for two years with club option, per @JeffFletcherOCR.

[ChiefsCountry]

Pedro Alvarez makes the most sense. Play him against righties. Move Soler to DH and put Paulo in against lefties.